Aerial Yoga

Aerial Yoga

About Aerial Yoga

Aerial Yoga combines traditional mat yoga with postures suspended in soft fabric hammocks. With the help of gravity and the hammocks, we can playfully explore floating, fluid movements and create space in our bodies without compressing our joints and spine. The feeling in the body is exquisite. The silky hammocks are a special high-density nylon that can hold over 2000 pounds each.

Aerial Yoga is a wonderful complement to your mat practice. It unwinds fascial knots and tangles, quiets the mind, builds core-strength, and leaves your body feeling integrated. The basic yoga principles of ahimsa (non-harm) and mindfulness are woven throughout the sequences. The hammock, like other props in yoga, is intended to assist alignment and deepen your awareness. The fabric becomes a learning tool and students often find "Aha!" moments that bring new life and understanding to poses they previously feared or fought to achieve. In our classes we will alternate between practicing with the hammock and practicing on the mat to play with gravity in different ways and to stay energetically grounded.

A $20 no show fee will be charged to all membership clients if they preregister and then don’t show up. If students no show and are paying the drop-in rate no refunds will be given.

Benefits

Build strength and awareness of the core and body

Increased flexibility, balance and body alignment

Effective overall conditioning and increased muscle tone

Decompression of the spine through inversions

Complete relaxation

Mindfulness and breath awareness

Sense of fun, freedom and confidence

Aerial Yoga Student Etiquette

Please arrive 10 minutes before class to set yourself up comfortably in your hammock.

If you are new to the studio, please allow yourself 20 minutes to fill out paperwork and connect with your teacher to set up for class.

Avoid wearing lotion of strong perfumes.

Remove your shoes before entering the studio classroom.

Please do not chew gum.

Be considerate of the next person using the hammock and observe good personal hygiene.

Wear deodorant.

Aerial Yoga can be exciting. For safety reasons, we ask that you are quiet and listen attentively while the teacher is talking.

Listen to your body and take care of yourself during class. Rest when needed by coming to child’s pose on your mat or resting in the hammock in a neutral position that feels good to you.

Avoid practicing on a full stomach.

Please turn cell phones off or silence them. Please do not leave your phone on vibrate.

Clothing

Please wear a sleeved shirt that covers the armpits and pants that cover your knees

Wear form fitting clothing. Please do not wear baggy clothing as they can snag and catch on the sling’s fabric causing accidents.

Ensure that your clothing is "zipper free" and remove all jewelry, watches and hair clips. These items can snag and damage the silk hammocks.

Physical Restrictions and Contraindications

Please talk to the teacher before attending class if you have any medical issues that prevent you from inverting or putting pressure on your skin. Check with your doctor before attending class if you have a spinal injury or any medical condition that might be effected by an Aerial Yoga class. Possible contraindications include:

Pregnancy

Glaucoma

Recent Surgery

Heart Disease

Very High or Very Low Blood Pressure

Easy Onset Vertigo

Osteoporosis or Bone Weakness

Recent Concussion or Head Injury

Head Cold, Flu, or Sinusitis

Hiatal Hernia or Disc Herniation

Recent Stroke

Artificial or Re-Surfaced Hips

Botox (within 24 hours of class.)

Commonly Asked Questions

How strong are the hammocks?

The hammocks are made of high density nylon made to hold up to 2000 lbs. They are suspended by industrial strength polyester wraps.

How difficult are aerial yoga classes?

As Aerial Yoga is new to Yoga on High we will be operating at a foundations level until we build the community around the practice. A certain amount of strength and body awareness is required to do the Flow and Strength classes but the Beginner and Restore classes should be accessible to most.

Do I need prior yoga experience? Aerial experience? Is this a circus class?

While any prior experience in yoga or aerial arts can be helpful, it isn’t necessary to attend class. The first fifteen minutes of Level 1 classes will be spent helping beginners adjust their hammocks and safely maneuver in them. Please arrive 10 minutes before class to adjust the height of your hammock with your instructor and to become familiar with it.

Aerial Yoga is not a circus class. Aerial Yoga classes are designed to give you an all-over workout that diversifies the challenges of a traditional fitness classes by using the hammock for inversions, support in the yoga poses and flying. It’s an enthralling experience.

How is AY different from other group fitness classes? From yoga classes?

By training the muscles to respond fluidly to a series of challenging exercises designed to strengthen and tone the entire body, AY provides its students with an effective all-around workout. The incorporation of the hammocks, while encouraging the development of students’ core strength and musculature, also adds the sensation of flight…and most importantly, the element of FUN!